'Significant drop' in smoking rates

Oxfordshire aims to be "smoke free" - meaning smoking prevalence gets down to 5% or less by 2030

The percentage of people that smoke in Oxfordshire fell to 7.5% in 2024, according to the latest figures.

Officials described it as a "statistically significant drop" since 2020 - when smoking prevalence in the county was at 12.1%

Oxfordshire initially set a target of going "smoke free" by 2025, where 5% or fewer smoke, but has now changed its deadline to 2030.

Smoking prevalence in some population groups remains high in the county - including those with long-term mental health conditions (22.6%) and those in routine or manual jobs (18.3%).

A report for Oxfordshire's Health Improvement Partnership Board warns that there are still around 47,000 people who smoke in Oxfordshire.

Board member and Liberal Democrat councillor Rob Pattenden said the progress was encouraging nonetheless.

He said: "You don't ever want to seem complacent, but if our target is to get below 5% by 2030, and we're on 7.5% now... I think it's looking good isn't it?"

Smoking prevalence in Oxfordshire is below the South East figure of 9.4% and the England figure of 10.4% for 2024.

One of the programmes being piloted in the county was developed by British author and accountant Allen Carr.

It uses live group seminars to teach cognitive behavioural techniques.

Cllr Georgina Heritage, who chaired the partnership board, said the "Allen Carr Easyway" method was how she had quit.

She said: "I know when I gave up smoking, this was before vaping - before that was an option.

"[The Allen Carr Easyway method] was the only route that worked for me and I think that's been the case for a lot of people that have used that method."

A report said that challenges remain to reduce smoking prevalence further - including "uncertainty" around the funding of Tobacco Dependency Advisors in Oxfordshire hospitals.

It also that there are plans for a research project into nicotine dependence and vaping - and the best way to support people to quit, especially children and young people.

A smoking and mental health campaign is planned for January across a wider region which will challenge "myths around smoking and mental health".